With new talks beginning this week in Morocco, the communication about past Paris agreements should be improved. Only 22% of US respondents are familiar with them.

Moreover, the political willingness to turn commitments into actions is perceived differently by the US population. More than half (53%) of US respondents are skeptical while 47% are optimistic about the possibility that political actions could be effectively undertaken.

Americans are particularly aware of their weighty environmental impact as top carbon emitters. More than two-thirds of US respondents (72%) classify the country in the top 10, with 37% of them answering correctly, especially Millennials (43%). The US is the second largest emitter after China.

Awareness may drive actions. Individually, Americans try to avoid negative environmental consequences.Shutting off lights in unused rooms (27% of mentions) and trying to reduce consumption, to reuse and to recycle (24% of mentions) are the most popular actions US respondents undertook to reduce their carbon footprint. Other behaviors are also adopted by a majority of US respondents : limiting their waste of food (15%), reducing their use of water (14%) and buying Energy Star home appliances (13%).

Contrary to other generations who are more likely to buy Energy Star appliances (17%), Millennials are acting on their transport habits. They are more likely to bike to work (7% of mentions), to carpool (15% of mentions) or even to use public transportation (10% of mentions).

This survey conducted by ReportLinker reached 508 online respondents representative of the US population and aged above 18 years old. Interviews conducted between October 28th and October 31st.